NRL: Benji seeking move to Japanese rugby

Benji Marshall's manager is to seek an immediate release from the Wests Tigers star's contract so he can pursue opportunities in Japanese rugby.

Manager Martin Tauber has told News Ltd that in the wake of the NRL accepting Sonny Bill Williams' return to the game he is keen to explore Marshall's opportunities in the rival code.

Tauber believes the NRL's registration of Williams has set a precedent other players can pursue.

"It is probably something I will raise with the chief executive in the next couple of days, when they come back from their exhaustive camp,'' Tauber said on Wednesday.

"It's an opportunity for them to earn additional income that would set themselves up financially for the long term.''

The NRL has previously rejected players moonlighting in rival codes, but there is a growing belief that future moves to stop players jumping codes in the off-season might be a restraint of trade following the Williams precedent, the News Ltd report said.